Slider for separable fasteners and the method of making same



W. R. EPES Oct. 20, 1942.

SLIDER FOR SEPARABLE FASTENERS AND THE METHOD OF MAKING SAME Filed April 5, 1940 v INVENTOR iV ll/xf/V ff. [P56 BY M ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 20, 1942 PATENT OFFICE snmnn ron ssmmmmras'rmms am) The METHOD or MAKING sum:

William 1:. Erica, Forest Hills, N. 2.. asig'nor to United States Rubber Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey Application April *5, 1940, 823111 No. 327,978

This invention relates to" an improved slider for separable fasteners and the method of manufacturing. same. The invention relates particularly to an automatic spring lock-type of slider and an improved method of assembling the same.

The slider embodying this invention is' particularly useful for operating separable fasteners for use in wearing apparel where it is desirable to prevent the strings of fastener elements from being disengaged'and permit the garment to be accidentally opened. The invention is closely related to the slider disclosed in Patent No. 2,197,690, granted April 16, 1940, upon application Serial Number 308,755, filed December 12, 1939, in the nameof Gilman M. Gay. It differs therefrom primarily in the improved construction which permits the slider elements to be assembled with greater ease. The improved construction comprises an opening formed in one oi. the wings of the slider body which is so designed in reference to the locking head that the head of a one piece bail and spring locking member may be pushed through the opening'while the bail is arranged.

longitudinally of the wing, and then may be pushed rearwardly into its operative position with one other simple motion while the end of the ball is simultaneously brought into position to be secured to the slider body. The end of the ball is fixed in such position with'its operating pull member and with-its locking head resiliently retained in locking engagement with the fastener elements. The locking head may be disengaged openingfor the reception of the locking head;

and Fig. l isa modified form of the locking head adaped to cooperate with the opening shown in v e slider comprises a body In having wings II and I2 and a spreader member l3 interposed therebetween at the front end of the slider. As shown in Fig. 1, the top wing ii of the slider body Ill is provided with an opening ll having an enlarged head l5 and a narrower elongated branch l5 extending therefrom and longitudinally of the wing H towards the rear end of the slider. The opening I4 is shown in theform of a T in which the head of the T is adapted to receive the head ll of the locking member formed on one end of a combination bail and spring locking member it. The stem 16 of the T is adapted to retain the head I! below the inside surface of the wing H when the head has been moved into its operative position.

The combination bail and locking member i3 is made from flat spring metal stock and shaped into the form of a U having the locking head l1 30 with an aperture 23 through which the intermetherefrom by the pull member when the slider is moved.

The foregoing and other objects and features of this invention are described and shown more in detail in the following description and accom' panying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is an isometric exploded view of the elements of the slider embodying this invention, and illustrating the method of assembling;

Fig. 2 is an isometric view of the slider, illustrating an intermediate step in the method of assembling the parts;

Fig. 3 is an isometric view of the assembled slider:

'diate portion extends.

The front end of the slider is provided with a groove 24, or channel which extends perpendicular to the plane of the wings H and i2 and opens 'forvvardly. The end I8 of the bafl is provided Fig. 4 is a front end view of the assembled slider;

Fig. 5 is a cross section of the slider taken on line 5-5 in Fig.3, and showing in addition the cooperation between the locking head and the fastener elements;

Fig.6 is a partial plan view of a modified form with a notched out portion 25, which is adapted I to be received by the groove '24, and when in position the shoulders 25 and 21, at each end of the notched out portion 25, are adapted to abut 0 against the top and bottom ends 28 and 29 respectively of the groove 24.

The end of the bail I8 upon which the locking head I1 is formed has a neck or reduced portion 30 which connects the head I! to the main body 5 of the bail n. and is provided with shoulders 3|- and 32 at each end. The head I! is provided with a locking projection 33 which is adapted to enter between the fastener elements 35, as shown in Fig. 5, and lock the slider in any position at which 0 it may be stopped. If desired the end of the projection 33 may be provided with a beveled edge 34 which extends upwardly and forwardly towards the front of the slider so as to permit the pro- Jection 33 to ride over the elements 34 without of the slider, illustrating a diiferently shaped 'usiug the pull 22 to move the projection from between the elements when the slider is moved forwardly to close the fastener.

in assembling the slider parts, the bail i8 is projected through the aperture 23 in the pull member 2?, and such parts are then arranged as shown in Fig. so that the bail l8 extends longitudinally of the wing II and the locking head ii is over the head E5 of the opening it in the wing it. in such position the end of the bail to be fixed in the slider will be arranged above and slightly to the front of the open side The head i? open side of the groove 2%. When the bail i8 is in this intermediate position, which is shown in Fig, .2, it may be moved into its final position by substantially straight rearward motion, so

In any event the notched out per-- ticn 25 of the bail it will be placed opposite the that the necls 39 will enter the stemit of the T-shaped slot and the notched out portion will enter the grooveZil, as shown in Fig. 3.

Wh n in such position the shoulders at at the nd of the bail will rest upon, or be '3 i, the'shoulders32 wili be below'the bottom f'the wing ii both shoulders 33 and overhang the of the stem 36 of the i ed slot. When bail iti'is in such pon the edges oi the groove 26 are headed the bail iii, and the shoulders 26 and El, will ear against the top and bottom ends 28 and oi the metal forming the walls 'of the groove 24. The end iii of the bail will then be held in armed position so that the locking projection 33 will be resiliently held in looking en'-' gagement with the fastener elements 35 on their strings 3'5. i p x The projection 33 may be moved out of locking engagement with the elements 35 by moving the notched out'portion of the fixed end a reduced neck portion 30 having top and bottom shoulders BI and 32'. The head I1 is also provided with a locking projection 33 which is adapted to cooperate with the fastener elements 35. The head i7 is adapted to be inserted through the head of the L-shaped opening id, and moved forwardly into the stem 16 of the opening, in a manner similar to the insertion of the locking head ll of the previously described modification. When the head ll has been moved into position, and its opposite end has been fixed to the front end of the slider body, the locking projection 33' is resiliently held in its locking position between the fastener elements 35. The shoulder 32 will then be beneath the bottom surface oi the slider wing ii and will overhang the edge of the stem E5 of the opening i4, and the upper shoulders 3i will rest upon the top surface of the wing i i, or may be spaced slight- I ly therefrom. In sucii position the locking projection 33' may be operated by the pull similar to that described in reference to Figs. 1-5.

It is contemplated that changes in the details of this invention may be made, and it is desired to claim the invention as broadly as permitted by spreader being adapted to slide in contact with the fastener elements to engage and disengage same, said slider having a socket at its front end and an opening in one of said wings at its rear end, said opening having a transversely enlarged head and a narrower branch extending rearwardly therefrom and longitudinally of said wing, a one-piece fiat spring metal combination bail and locking device having inwardly extending front and rear ends, said rear ,end of said bail pull 22 rearwardly against the sloping end of the bail iii and thereby move the slider, so as to open the strings 3i of fasteners by separating the elements 35. The'pull22 may be moved in the opposite direction to closethe fastener by pulling upwardly to release the projection from its locking engagement, or'in'case the projection 33 is w edges of the branch 16 of the opening are undercut or beveled at 39 to permit the head H to recede into the Wing ll. I

A modified form of the. invention is shown in Figs. 6' and '7, in which a difi'ierently shaped locking 'head'and opening in the slider wing for receiving same is shown. In-Fig. 6, there is illustrated a fragmentary portion of a wing I I having an L-shaped opening l4 for'the reception of the locking head l1 formed on the locking end of a U'-shaped bail I8 as shown'in'Fig. 7. Except for the shape of the locking head; the bail- I8 is of thesame shape :as bail l8 shown in Figs. 1-5,

and 'it cooperates with the slider bodyin the same way. The locking head I1 is provided with having a locking head connected thereto by a narrower neck provided with shoulders at each end thereof, the width of said locking head being less than the transverse dimension of said opening head, said neck or the locking head being positioned in said branch of said opening and said locking head on the inner side of said wing and overhanging thelongitudinal edge of said branch, said front end of said bail being secured in said socket so as to normally resiliently retain said locking head in engagement with said fas- 1 tener elements, and a pull being retained in po- -sition by said bail for disengaging said locking rear end portion and so arranged that the stem of the T extends rearwardly, a one piece fiat spring locking element having its front and rear ends extending inwardly, said front end of said spring having a reduced portion secured in said groove, said rear end of said locking element having a locking head adapted to pass through the-headof said T opening andihaving a widthwise dimension greater than the widthof said T opening, said head beingof the ste extended t rough said opening and provided with shoulders which overhang the edges of thestem of said T opening, said head having a projection thereon which is adapted to be resiliently held by the spring between the fastener elements to prevent the movement of the slider in the direction to disengage the fastener elements, and a pull member adapted to operate said slider and move said locking projection out of locking engagement with the fastener elements.

3. The method of making a slider for a separable fastener comprising the steps of forming a slider body with wings secured together at their front ends, forming an opening in the rear end of one wing having an enlarged head extending transversely of said wing and having a con necting branch opening extending rearwardly and longitudinally of said wing, forming a piece of flat spring metal into a combination bail and lock member having an end adapted to be socured to the front ends of said wings and having a locking head and a reduced portion formed on the other end of said member, longitudinally aligning the bail with the wing of the slider, extending the locking head through the head of the opening in the wing, moving the reduced portion of the bail adjacent to the locking head into the narrower branch opening with a generally rearward motion, and securing the other end of the bail to the front ends of the wings.

4. The method of making a slider for a separable fastener comprising the steps of forming a slider body with wings and a spreader member, forming an opening having a transversely enlarged head and a narrower branch in the rear end of one wing and so arranged that the branch extends longitudinally of the wing, forming a groove in the front end of the body of the slider so that it extends perpendicular to the plane of the wings, forming a U-shaped combination bail and lock member having a securing end on one end and a locking head and a reduced portion on the other end from flat spring metal, longi- .tudinally aligning the bail with the wing of the slider, extending the locking head through the head of the opening in the wing, moving the reduced portion of the bail adjacent to the locking head into the narrower branch of the opening and the securing end of the ball into the groove in the front end of the body with a generally rearward motion, and fixing the securing end of the ball in the body of the slider.

5. The method of making a slider for a separable fastener comprising the steps of forming a slider body with wings and a spreader member, forming an opening having an enlarged head and a narrower branch in the rear end of one wing and so arranged that the branch extends longitudinally of the wing, fonning a groove in the front end of the body of the slider so that it extends perpendicular to the plane of the wings, forming a U-shaped combination bail and locking member with a notched out end on one end and a locking head and a contiguous reduced portion on the other end from flat spring metal, longitudinally aligning the bail with the wings of the slider, extending the locking head through the head of the opening in the wing while longitudinally aligned, moving the reduced portion of the bail contiguous to the locking head into the branch opening and the notched end of the'bail into the groove in the front end of the body with a rearward motion, and bending the edges of the groove over the notched end of the bail to hold same in a fixed position.

6. The method of making a slider for a separable fastener comprising the steps of forming a slider body with wings and a spreader member, forming a T-shaped opening in the rear end of one wing and so arranged that the stem of the T extends longitudinally of the wing, forming a groove in the front end of the body of the slider so that it extends perpendicular to the plane of the wings, forming a U-shaped combination bail and locking member with a notched out end on one end and a T-shaped locking head and a contiguous reduced portion on the other end from flat spring metal, longitudinally aligning the bail with the wings of the slider, extending the locking head through the head of they opening in the wing, moving the reduced portion of the bail contiguous to the locking head into the stem of the T-shaped opening and the notched end of the ball into the groove in the front end of the body with a single motion, and bending the edges of the groove over the notched end of the bail to hold same in a fixed position.

7. The method of making a slider for a separable fastener comprising the steps of forming a slider body with wings and a spreader member, forming an L-shaped opening in the rear end of one wing and so arranged that the stem of the L extends longitudinally of the wing, forming a groove in the front end of the body of the slider so that it extends perpendicular to the plane of the wings, forming a U-shaped combination bail and-locking member having a notched out end on one end and a locking head and a contiguous reduced portion on the other end from flat spring metal, longitudinally alignposition.

WILLIAM R. EPES. 

